NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 21 : Hope
Chapter XXI : Hope
Premorn of Primoris, Second Day of Autumnmoon
Uriana stepped into the mouth of the cave, hoping her child hadn’t gone too far. The little one was bolder now and old enough to start using their powers. Uriana was chieftess of the Ur Tribe. Although she considered her followers to be her children, only one shared her blood. Their name was Uriel, a soul forged by the Goddess’ own spirit, destined to be the hope of humankind. The spirit had not yet chosen a form for Uriel, so for now, Uriana treated them as neutral, in mind, body, and gender. They were her moon and her stars, and right now, they were missing.
It wasn’t the first time, but it was the longest. Four days had passed since she noticed Uriel’s disappearance. She had been in prayer all week for the Por Qhai, and her child should have been at home, worshipping in private. But at some point, they had run off to Gaia-knew-where.
Uriana formed a village-wide search as soon as she heard. She checked all the usual places: swimming holes, climbing trees, farms, and nurseries—all of Uriel’s favorites. Uriana now worried that her child might have left the valley altogether.
The Ur Valley was a gift from the Goddess. Separated from the outside world, it was a garden of supreme beauty and bounty, meant solely for the Ur Tribe. It was blessed and safe, protected from the creatures of chaos known as spawn. And it had only one way in or out.
“Do you truly think they would have gone this far?” her companion asked. “After all we’ve taught them?”
Uriana had chosen a trusted friend to join her search. His name was Uriyé, and though Tribal Chieftesses were not allowed to marry, he would have been her first choice. He was handsome and brave, with long, flowing white hair. The color was the same for all the Ur tribespeople. It was a sign of the Goddess’ blessing.
“We’ve searched everywhere else,” she reminded him. “Do you believe they are not capable?”
Uriyé blushed. “I have no doubt that Uriel can do anything they set their mind to. I had only hoped they would listen to their elders when we tell them certain areas are off limits.”
Uriana sighed. “I as well.”
The two delved deeper into the cave. Uriyé used his magic to summon a small wisp of golden light, an aurum. The Goddess granted her tribe the power to call forth spirits of the planet. Aurums were lifeforms, just like any other. They just so happened to ally themselves with the ones who summoned them. Uriyé’s aurum would do its best to make sure he didn’t trip or fall in the cave’s dark interior.
“Don’t you worry that Uriel might have wandered to the outside world?”
Uriana could think of nothing else. “It has crossed my mind, Dear Uriyé.”
“But, what would we do?” he asked. “Go to outsider settlements, asking for a child with white hair? What if … what if the outsiders have already—”
“That’s enough,” Uriana commanded. “There’s no need to get worked up. You forget how special Uriel is. The Goddess will protect them, no matter what. You do believe that, don’t you?”
Uriyé looked embarrassed. “Of course, I do. I’m just worried.”
Uriana smiled, taking note of movement in the distance. “I know you are, Dear Uriyé. That’s why I like you.”
She whistled, and called forth her own aurum, which flew through the cave, lighting up the walls and displaying various twists and turns. Somewhere in the far reaches, the aurum found what it was looking for: a small child that appeared to be wearing a woolen cap, fashioned in the style of outsiders.
Uriana marched over to her child, wearing her best mom face. “Now, just where in Gaia’s name have you been?”
Uriel stared back, seemingly at a loss of words. It happened a lot, actually. The child very rarely used their voice, choosing instead to speak telepathically.
“Oh, very well.” Uriana accepted that it would be easier for Uriel to speak in their mind’s voice. So, she bent down and touched her index fingers to the child’s temples.
Very soon, she felt fear. “Uriyé, you must take Uriel back to the village. Quickly.”
“What’s wrong?”
She didn’t have time to explain. “Outsiders have entered the cave. They followed Uriel here.”
Uriyé’s face drained of color. “Are they … are they hostile?”
“They’re all hostile, Dear Uriyé.” Uriana was steadfast, ready for the role she had been born to play. “Once they know of our valley, their trespasses will be relentless. They will invade us … enslave us … and eventually kill us out of fear.”
Uriyé’s eyes grew misty. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Do as I say,” Uriana commanded. “I will summon the ouroboros. It has protected us for generations.”
Uriana took her child’s hand and matched it to her friend’s.
Uriyé looked hesitant. “I love you.”
The words squeezed Uriana’s heart like a vice. After so many years of denying her love, hearing the words was both chilling and unfair. She had yearned to hear them, but now she had to pretend they were never uttered. She fought back tears.
“Go!”
Uriyé took Uriel and disappeared down the cavern’s tunnels.
Uriana watched as the mist enveloped them. When they were gone, she summoned her magic.